Warden Farmhouse

Warden Farmhouse

A farmhouse of complex development, dating from the first half of the 17th century with possible 16th-century origins. It was extended in the late 17th century and remodelled in the early 19th century. The walls are partly rendered rubble incorporating some cob, with some rebuilding in brick. The roof is gable-ended with slate tiles. There are three brick gable-end stacks and a large rubble stack at the gable end of the rear right-hand wing.

The plan is U-shaped with a complex pattern of development. Two ranges run east to west, connected by a wing at the east end running north to south. This north-south wing and the adjoining rear range appear to be the earliest parts of the building. The north-south range consists of one large room heated by a gable-end fireplace, and the adjoining rear range has one principal heated room at the end with a staircase beside it connecting with the wing. The division between these two ranges does not extend into the roof space and they may be contemporary. During the time of the present occupant's father, the rear range was completely re-roofed, and carved timbers were reportedly removed at that time suggesting it may in fact be late medieval, although this evidence has since been lost. In the late 17th century a front range was added running east to west, parallel with the others. Evidence in the roof suggests it may be a rebuilding of earlier fabric. It originally consisted of two sizeable rooms with a central stairhall, though this arrangement may be the result of remodelling in the early to mid 19th century. In the mid-20th century the front wall of this range was partly rebuilt.

The exterior has two storeys with a cellar under the left end of the front range. A regular five-window front includes gabled dormer windows to the first floor, the right-hand one being a mid-20th-century two-light casement and the other late 19th-century. Large canted bay windows occupy the ground floor to left and right, fitted with 10:25:10 pane sashes—the right-hand one is early 19th-century and the left-hand one a mid-20th-century facsimile. A central large mid-20th-century glazed porch has a 19th-century six-panelled door behind it. The wing behind the right end of the front range is set back slightly, with a 19th-century outshut in the angle. At right angles to the wing is the rear range, parallel to the front range but longer, forming a very narrow courtyard. This has a tall slate-roofed wall across its end with a doorway formed by a reused two-light granite mullion window head.

The interior of the early 17th-century wing contains three chamfered and ogee-stopped cross beams. A very large open fireplace has a chamfered and bar-stopped wooden lintel, with a brick oven to the right and a cloam oven beyond. The room in the rear range has a roughly chamfered cross beam. At the head of the stairs leading into the early 17th-century wing is a particularly fine 17th-century ovolo-moulded double doorframe complete with original studded plank doors. The front range contains numerous early 18th-century fielded two-panel doors. In the ground floor right-hand room is a simple early 19th-century ceiling band and six-panel door.

The central wing retains its early 17th-century roof structure consisting of three substantial straight principals with threaded purlins and cranked collars halved on with double curved notch joint. The southern end truss has had a cob wall apparently built up around it. The roof to the front range is late 17th-century with straight principals which have trenched purlins and curved chamfered collars slightly set into the trusses. The roof over the rear range is entirely 20th-century.

The plain exterior of this house disguises a building with an interesting pattern of development and some good internal features.